Why Chinese censorship can backfire

China is once again meddling in the internet firewall this time blocking You Tube.

The measure follows the release of video footage of the aftermath of last years riots in Lhasa which shows dissidents being handcuffed and clubbed by Chinese police.

The measure appears to be backfiring on the Chinese.

As Austin Ramzy writes at Swampland,whilst watching the video

I was uncertain about the accuracy of the images. While the initial beatings seemed real, it was hard to make a call about hospital footage of the man with the horrific wounds. How many people, after all, know what rotted flesh looks like?

So all the Chinese have done is given the footage greater publicity than it may have merited.

posts about what sites are blocked or unblocked can attract huge amounts of web traffic.

You can access the video here-make up your own mind